It is becoming increasingly clear that spending time in nature can benefit our mental health and wellbeing. It is becoming increasingly clear that can benefit our mental health and wellbeing. However, a new study by my colleagues and me shows that you don’t have to actually be in nature to reap the rewards.
Simply directing your gaze toward natural elements, even in the middle of a city, can enhance well-being. Our paper, , used eye-tracking technology to explore how focusing on natural versus man-made elements affects mental health. Urban living, with its fast pace and high levels of stress, numerous mental health issues, including anxiety and depression.
Our research team, which was led by me and consisting of my colleagues Brian Rizowy and Assaf Shwartz, recruited 117 adults for the study. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: one that focused on natural elements such as trees (green group), one that focused on man-made elements such as buildings (grey group), and a third group that focused on a mix of both (mixed group). Each participant wore specialized eye-tracking glasses during a 45-minute guided walk around town and the campus.
The route included ten designated stopping points designed to emphasize either natural or man-made elements, depending on the group. Before and after the walk, participants completed surveys assessing their mood, anxiety levels, and the restorative quality of the walk. The surveys included standardized measures such as .